Without emergency funds, aging Aloha Stadium could be forced to consider closing areas of the facility in the event of additional deterioration in the future, the Stadium Authority was told Thursday.
The warning, contained in a frank engineer’s report to the nine-member appointed board, comes in the wake of a lack of funding by the Legislature for what were described as basic health and safety repairs in the budgets for fiscal years 2018, ’19 and ’20.
As a result, there is no further construction scheduled at the 44-year-old facility for at least a year beginning July 29, 2019, and several priority health and safety items, including corrosion mitigation of steel bracing, replacements of concourse decks and some mauka seat plate repairs will not be completed, the authority was told.
That is in addition to “Any additional repairs which come to light in the next structural review of the stadium, which is due by the end of 2018,” the report read.
Due to lag time, it takes approximately a year for construction to start once grants are made, the report said.
It also warned that the asphalt parking lot, “… is deteriorating at a rapid pace and may cause hazards to pedestrians and wheelchair occupants for both events and the swap meet.” Moreover, major plumbing or electrical repairs and breaks “…can occur at any time.”
Stadium engineer Charles Vitale told the authority, “I don’t want to give anybody a false impression — the stadium is safe. People can come here. The stadium is safe.”
Vitale said consulting structural engineers undertake industry-standard inspections every two years and can be summoned if immediate concerns arise.
But, Vitale counseled, “It is like anything else, if you don’t maintain your car, it will break down.”
Authority member Audrey Abe asked, “If we are not funding this deferred maintenance, at what point is there a breaking point (on) some of the things that we cannot see or understand? That is my concern.”
Authority chairman Ross Yamasaki said, “That’s where we rely on the engineers. Once the engineers report to us, I’m sure they will come to us in that report with recommendations.”
A 2015 consultant’s report said the stadium would need, on average, $30 million in annual health and safety repairs just to keep the facility operational, Stadium Manager Scott Chan told the group.
The Stadium Authority said it had sought $10 million for repairs in the fiscal 2018 budget and $15 million in 2019 but did not receive anything in either budget. It did get $6 million in 2017.
Yamasaki said, “The authority is well aware of the challenges the Legislature and governor have (for funding). So, now, we just have to adjust. If all things were perfect, we’d have $30 million a year and stay ahead of the maintenance schedule.”
Chan said, “We are doing everything we can to provide a safe facility. We are working collaboratively with the (state) administration on these issues.”
The Legislature’s last major cash outlay for the stadium was $10 million last year for an environmental impact statement and master planning for a possible new stadium. Bids have yet to be awarded.
ALOHA STADIUM HEALTH & SAFETY REPAIRS DEFERRED
Recommended health and safety repairs not scheduled to be completed due to lack of funds.
>> Replacement of the majority of makai south outer concourse deck
>> Replacement of mauka south outer concourse deck
>> Corrosion mitigation of north and south steel bracing
>> Mauka elevator replacement
>> Mauka seat plate repairs
>> Painting of weathered steel
>> Major plumbing or electrical repairs
>> Repair of asphalt parking lot areas
>> Any additional repairs that surface in 2018 structural review
Source: Engineer’s report to Aloha Stadium Authority
